Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Overview of AMEX Travel Rewards

Rewards credit cards are becoming ever more popular. If you pay your credit card bills in full each month avoiding any interest charges then a rewards card can help you earn free travel and entertainment rewards. The credit card with the biggest reuptation for rewards in American Express who offer a range of credit card reward schemes. Read on to see the main AMEX rewards schemes on offer.

Amex Rewards schemes are designed to accomplish that objective. American Express credit cards continually get feedback from rewards program members on the rewards items that matter to them or not. AMEX has constantly refined it's rewards programs to meet the needs of its cardholders and conducts regular research and surveys among members.

Delta Credit Card

American Express credit cards are available in several categories. Some of the main Amex Rewards programs are the following:

Membership Rewards:

Most American Express credit cards offer the chance to join the Membership Rewards program; there is a special Membership Rewards First program for American Express platinum cards and the Membership Rewards Express program for the Blue from American Express.

Membership Rewards give you 1 point per dollar of spending. This multiplies into 3 points per dollar when you use the card for purchases at BonusPointsMall.com or 2 points per dollar for purchases at American Express Travel. For Platinum cards, the multiple is 4 points per dollar.

You can redeem Membership Rewards points when you travel, entertain, shop or dine. Platinum cards are offered an exclusive Access First Collection of rewards that include luxury goods, jewelry, fashion items, and world-class travel.

Points can be transferred to participating frequent flyer programs (such as Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, Aeroplan, and Cathay Pacific) or to hotel partners (such as Starwood Hotels) or for car rentals at your travel destinations.

Cash Back Rewards:

One of the simplest reward programs are cash-back credit cards: you get a rebate on every purchase. The Blue from American Express is comes out on top in this category and is very well regarded by card experts. The Blue gives you 5% rebate on things you buy at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations

Overview of AMEX Travel Rewards

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Justice For American Auto Workers and Stockholders

America Needs to Return to Manufacturing Health Again

The Big Three Auto Manufacturers see the long line of other industries getting government bailouts, and wonders why not jump in and get some before it all runs out? We hear the the requests of the Big Three car makers and wonder, why?

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The Big Three Have Nothing New To Offer - But They Want Money For It! We Have An Answer For Them Here In This Article!

Democratic & Republican leaders in Congress crafted a plan to fork over at least billion to Detroit, above and beyond the billion in loans the government already committed to help the Big Three make more fuel-efficient cars. The problem with that is that is it really a UAW Bailout and will do more harm than good. The Big Three need to go through Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code so they can reorganize and level the playing field with foreign Manufacture of automobiles. While the big three are in chapter 11, Congress can sanction recapitalization and the following tax law changes.

Eliminate All Income Tax & Capital Gains Taxes on the Auto Industry

Replace the income tax with a national automobile sales tax that is equal for all automobiles. Both American and Foreign. This way American Manufacturers will now have a level playing field. Finally, we will have economic justice. After the U.S. Treasury see how helpful the tax law changes are, other industries should be permitted to sign on. Capital will flood into the auto industry, after filing Chapter 11, and the taxpayers will not need to put up the capital. See the bottom of this report for further information.

Following are several important reasons why a bailout is not a good idea:

- A bailout would provide money only for short-term survival. It wouldn't alter car makers' seriously flawed business models. GM is running through cash at the rate of billion a month. So billion from the government would give it only five months' breathing room. Can they turn over their business practices in that period? We all know better than that! They would be simply to come back to taxpayers for more. These companies need new business plans. The old ones should have been scrapped in 1973.

- A government handout would allow the Big Three to avoid necessary cost cutting. Because of a strong union, the average GM employee received an hour in combined pay and benefits last year. And it's not just line workers who are making too much. GM chief executive Richard Wagoner garnered about million a year in 2006 and 2007, while leading his company toward oblivion. That is too much money to be paid for crashing a legendary company! What is wrong with CEO pay plans that pay so much to executives who trash companies like this?

- Bankruptcy isn't a bad idea, it is a very healthy idea whose time has come. It doesn't mean liquidation, which is what a Chapter 7 would be. It means taking the painful steps the companies have been unwilling to contemplate to date. The real losers in such a deal are car makers, equity shareholders and creditors. Bankruptcy would give the automakers the chance to throw out existing employee contracts with their onerous health and pension systems. The unions would be forced to temper their demands if they want the car companies to survive. In the case of GM, it could also dump some of its uncompetitive product lines such as Pontiac and Saturn. Discontinuing five of GM's eight domestic brands would save the company billion annually. The unions either go along or go under with the automakers. That is reality and that is their choice. Remember that GREED KILLS!

- Taxpayer money won't change the fact that many foreign cars are made better than their U.S. counterparts. Kelley Blue Book announced its top 10 brands for resale value this week, and not one of the Big Three was on the list. Chryslers, for example, keep only 24.2 percent of their sticker price on average after five years. By contrast, Hondas retain 44.5 percent of their value. The taxpayers already have Billion committed to help the Big Three retool the plants and now it is time to retool the labor contracts.

- Bailout funds would help automakers continue their outsourcing of auto jobs to foreign countries, where costs are lower. All of the Big Three have increased the percentage of manufacturing and assembly done overseas in the past year, especially in China and Mexico. In May, Ford agreed to build billion auto plant in suburban Mexico City and upgrade two other Mexican plants, the largest foreign investment in Mexican history. We need more jobs here in America, not in Mexico. If we run short of workers, we can change our immigration laws and upgrade our guest-worker program.

- Big Three bankruptcies wouldn't mean the end of auto industry in the United States. It may increase production here. Foreign companies, which already have plants here, could pick up the slack and open new factories. Some 78,000 Americans already work for foreign car makers, a number likely to rise in the wake of any U.S. automaker demise. The depressed South could benefit particularly from increased production of foreign auto companies. Let us move forward now!

- Other industries have survived bankruptcy just fine. Most of the major airlines have spent time in bankruptcy, including United, Continental, Delta, Northwest, and US Airways. Their predicament looked particularly dire after 9/11. But the major carriers made it through. And to the extent that they suffered, low-fare competitors such as Southwest and JetBlue picked up the slack, often offering superior service in addition to cheaper prices. Southwest does pretty well and seldom turns in a loss. Is anyone paying attention? It is past time for lazy overpaid executives to sit on outdated business plans. It is time for investors to shake up stockholder meetings. Let's have some fun!

- Bailing out the auto industry would only encourage other sectors to beg for government handouts. Remember that the 0 Billion Troubled Assets Relief Program was designed only to assist banks, but now insurance companies and even credit card giant American Express are trying to get in on the action. Home builders, who arguably are as strapped as the automakers, could lobby for some of the action.

- Stockholders deserve no mercy. Some argue that they should be compensated for the fact that GM and Ford's share prices have hit their lowest levels in decades. We all know that is pure 100% non-sense! But in a free market, stock prices go down as well as up. The automakers' problems have been clear for years, so investors had plenty of time to get out for demand overdue changes. As for Chrysler, it's owned by private equity firm Cerberus, no innocent victim itself. The stockholders have not held the manufacturers accountable. From this day forward, they need to do just that. Then we would have more American Economic Justice.

- Bailouts have been tried in the auto industry, and they don't work. In the 1970s, Britain's Leyland hit the skids, hurt by slipping quality in its vehicles and imports from Germany and Japan. Sound familiar? Leyland, which made MGs, Jaguars (Jaguars are now schedules to be made in India) and mass-market cars, accounted for 36 percent of the UK market. So the government sunk in .5 billion to keep it afloat. The result? Unless you're a car buff, you've probably never heard of Leyland, because it no longer exist. The same will happen for the Big Three if we bail them out.

So let us consider the four items below:

- Fair Access Amendment - ([http://justicetimes.com/?p=1254])
- Fair Tax Act - (http://Fairtax.org)
- Read The Bill Act - (http://downsizedc.org)
- One Subject at a Time Act - (see above)

If you are concerned about our nation, please decide how you can participate. At a minimum, please submit your thoughts and comments: We are looking for a PHP programmer who can help us design a one click plug in for people to be able to contact their elected officials. Please advise if you know of someone who could do this in exchange for an equity position with Justice Times.

Please consider joining our small group of investigative writers. You can research and write in your spare time and share the advertising revenue.

We are also considering investors who would like to be paid off the top from all incoming revenues instead of the typical business model of "if there is any profit, we will share it with you unless we vote to keep it."

Justice For American Auto Workers and Stockholders

Monday, October 3, 2011

Using the 20 Percent Principle to Add More Points to Your Credit Score

What you will learn in this article is a simple method you can apply to increase your current score. You've got 650 on your report. So what? Even people with 720 still find it useful and know the benefits of putting extra points to get them to 790.

Using the 20 percent rule, what you will be doing is to keep the expenses on your credit cards to a possible minimum. Note the words I used there "possible minimum". The reason is because hundreds of people are using that principle and it sure works for them.

Delta Credit Card

Even though a creditor gives you a maximum spending limit of (for the purpose of understanding this article) , 000, that doesn't mean that you should spend , 000 or , 000. Oh, you're going to pay back? Well, that is understandable but also keep in mind that the closer you are to this limit, the more points are take away from you.

The kind of credit-card lifestyle you should be living should built on the 20 percent principle whereby you do not spend more than 20 percent of the total limit allowed you on your plastic-money-holder.

The more you keep your expenses to a 20 percent minimum, the better for you as it will be counted for you as financial righteousness.

Another strategy to build more figures on your file is to sign-up as an additional cardholder on a close relative, spouse or associate's card. Before you use this method, however, first establish that the person whom you will be jumping on his boat has got a pretty good financial record too, or else you will be putting yourself in more danger if such person has got a bad spending habit on his card.

Using the 20 Percent Principle to Add More Points to Your Credit Score

Sunday, October 2, 2011

American Express OPEN For Small Business

American Express is one of the mainstays in the credit card industry. It has been known worldwide as a financial institution that addresses the needs of big companies and small entrepreneurs alike. It also offers financial opportunities for individuals. One of its most notable programs is OPEN for small businesses.

The American Express OPEN program is a new financial network offered by American Express. It is specifically designed to cater to entrepreneurs who have small businesses. This program employs a business team that aims to find financial resources and other benefits that will definitely help small business owners in saving money and expanding their business opportunities.

Delta Credit Card

American Express OPEN was created to support many business owners. The dedicated team of financers and creditors provides flexibility, purchasing power, control and various rewards for its customers. It helps small business customers to gain control over the products that they need, the tools that they use, and the services that they often utilize in their business processes. They provide convenient access to working capital matched with enhanced online account management capabilities.

In essence, you can avail of the prime offers of the OPEN program if you get Business Cards from American Express Small Business. In addition to that, you can also access the OPEN Savings program. This built-in feature allows the card holders to automatically save some of their money as rebates when making purchases with affiliated and participating companies.

The OPEN program is offered through a wide array of credit cards by the American Express Small Business system. These cards are designed differently in order to meet the various needs of entrepreneurs and business men when it comes to cash rebates, card benefits, airline mile rewards, travel rewards, and other privileges. For example, the OPEN program allows its card holders to save a lot on travel and hotel accommodation expenses with Delta and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.

Among the most notable business cards under the American OPEN Small Business program is the American Express SimplyCash Business card. Through this card, you can earn a 5% cash rebate on your various business expenses such as office supplies, wireless services, and gas expenses. As for the other expenses that you charge, you will get a full 1% cash rebate. These cash backs and rebates will automatically be deducted from your monthly installments and interest rates.

The American Express SimplyCash Business Card also provides you with flexible payment terms. You can pay in full every month, or you can also opt to carry your balance from one month to the next. Aside from the rebates and rewards, what's good about this card is the fact that you can easily track all of your business expenses through the use of the online account manager which has expenses reporting options.

American Express OPEN For Small Business

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Airline Rewards & Miles Cards - The Truth About Frequent Flyer Cards With No Blackout Dates

Airline rewards cards, also known as "miles cards" or "frequent flyer" cards, have become the most popular incentive based credit card rewards programs over the past decade. Because the market has been flooded with such cards, there has been a constant battle amongst credit card companies to make these offers as attractive as possible.

The major players on this market are Citi, American Express, Chase Manhattan Bank, and Capital One. All four banks have a variety of different miles cards, whether they be airline specific, like the American Airlines AAdvantage MasterCard from Citi, or general airline cards such as the newly-introduced American Express Blue Sky Card.

Delta Credit Card

Capital One features the No Hassle Rewards Miles Card, an airline rewards card with the popular slogan, "No Hassle," enlisting spokesperson David Spade to promote their product on national television advertisements. Capital One boasts no blackout dates for travel. What they fail to mention is that this card comes with an introductory APR of 13.9%, both on balance transfers and purchases. They also imply that the competition, American Express and the others, promote cards that do have blackout dates for travel. This is simply not the case.

American Express has just launched a new miles card, the American Express Blue Sky Credit Card. This card, in comparison to the No Hassle Card, comes with a 0% introductory APR for 6 months with a 12.24% APR thereafter. There are no blackout dates or restrictions for travel with the Blue Sky Card and you earn 1 point for every dollar you spend. These frequent flyer points are redeemable for airline, hotel, rental car, or cruise savings. Once a consumer is approved for the American Express Blue Sky Card, he or she is automatically enrolled in the World Class Cardmember Benefits Program, featuring travel accident insurance, a buyers assurance program, and return protection. the Blue Sky credit card is also non-specific to any particular airline, so travel is permitted on several major airlines.

Their other popular airline miles card, the American Express Gold Delta Skymiles Card is airline specific to Delta. All travel is completed by Delta and its partners upon frequent flyer point redemption. This card does come with an introductory APR of 9.99% and 15.99% thereafter, but the consumer does receive 10,000 bonus Skymiles after their first purchase. There is no annual fee for the first year, the consumer can earn double miles for purchases on gas and groceries, the frequent flyer miles never expire, and they feature over 400 destinations for travel redemption. This is a great miles card for people who regularly travel on Delta.

Citi also features two different airline miles cards. The AAdvantage American Airlines Mastercard, an airline specific miles card; and the new Citi PremierPass, a general airline miles card. The AAdvantage Card is similar to other airline miles cards in the respect that it offers bonus miles after the first purchase, in this case 20,000. The APR is 17.99% on balance transfers/purchases and the card comes with an annual fee of . Consumers who elect to carry this card should try to pay their balance in full at the end of every month as the 17.99% APR can accumulate massive amounts of interest if the balance is too high.

Citi's other miles card, the new Citi PremierPass, comes with a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers/purchases and a 13.49% APR thereafter. The PremierPass allows travel on any airline with no blackout dates. the consumer also has the opportunity to redeem points accumulated for gift certificates, merchandise, and even statement credits as part of instant enrollment into Citi's ThankYou Network.

Chase Manhattan Bank has reacted in response to general frequent flyer cards by launching their new Chase Value Miles Visa, a replacement for their older and very popular miles card, the Chase Travel Rewards Visa. This is basically a new and improved card to its relative featuring a 0% introductory APR on both balance transfers and purchases. After the first year, the APR is raised to a low 10.99%. The Chase Value Miles also has no blackout dates for travel and provides consumers with platinum benefits including travel insurance, travel assistance, emergency cash delivery, and lost card reporting. With this miles card you may also travel on any major U.S. airline.

There are so many choices out there for airline rewards cards which is why many consumers find difficulty in making their selections. Basically what it comes down to is how much flexibility does the consumer want with their card. Most general airline miles cards now come with no blackout dates for travel and no annual fees. However, many consumers are enticed by the initial frequent flyer bonus miles they will receive with airline specific miles cards. Everyone loves a free vacation, and both types of miles cards give the consumer an opportunity to earn one.

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Airline Rewards & Miles Cards - The Truth About Frequent Flyer Cards With No Blackout Dates